Eriarvoistavia

Eriarvoistavia is a Finnish adjective derived from eriarvoistaa, meaning to assign different value to people or things. In English, it is commonly understood as “differentially valuing” or, in everyday use, “discriminatory.” The term describes practices, policies, or attitudes that treat individuals or groups unequally by applying different standards, worth, or access based on characteristics such as ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion, sexuality, or socioeconomic status.

The concept is used mainly in sociology, ethics, and policy analysis to identify bias, whether explicit or implicit, that legitimizes unequal treatment. Eriarvoistavia explanations emphasize how social structures, institutions, or cultural norms sustain differences in value or status among people, often producing unequal outcomes in areas like education, employment, housing, and healthcare.

In policy and law, eriarvoistavia is closely related to discrimination (syrjintä). While it is not typically a formal legal term, the idea helps scholars and practitioners describe and critique how rules or practices create or reinforce inequality. For example, a recruitment policy that privileges credentials from certain institutions may be viewed as eriarvoistavaa if it systematically disadvantages candidates from less privileged backgrounds. Similarly, pricing, eligibility criteria, or access to services that favor one group over another can be analyzed through this lens.

Mitigation often involves promoting equality of opportunity, transparency, and accountability, along with anti-discrimination measures and inclusive practices that aim to value individuals fairly regardless of background. See also equality, discrimination, and proportionality in policy analysis.